Go Deeper

CBN TEACHING SHEETS

Understanding
Cults

By CBN.com

CBN.com
 To the Christian, a cult can be defined as any group that has a form of godliness,
but does not recognize Jesus Christ as the unique Son of God. Walter R. Martin
in The Kingdom of the Cults states that a cult "is a religious group which
differs significantly in one or more respects as to belief or practice, from those
religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in
our total culture."

It may be oriented around a personality or around a "revelation"
or "interpretation" of one individual. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses are, for
the most part, followers of the interpretations and teachings of Charles T. Russell
and J.F. Rutherford. Mormons are followers of the interpretations and teachings
of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

There are many kinds of religions in the
world today. Each group says that theirs is a true religion. However, if you wish
to know the true and living God, you must receive the Word of God with all readiness
of mind and search the Scriptures daily, to find "whether those things are so."
(Acts 17:11b)

"At that time
if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!" or, "Look, there he is!" do
not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs
and wonders to deceive the elect -- if that were possible. So be on your guard;
I have told you everything ahead of time." (Mark 13:21-23)

"For such men are
false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no
wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising,
then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will
be what their actions deserve." (II Corinthians 11:13-15).

How to Recognize a Cult

When you know the truth, that which is authentic, you will easily
recognize the "less than authentic." Take the Bible at face value in all its simplicity.
These matters include: the doctrine of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit);
heaven; hell; Satan; salvation; baptism; baptism with the Holy Spirit; matters
of righteousness and holiness in the Lord; the Second Coming of Christ; the resurrection
of the dead and recognition of the Bible as the guide and truth for faith and
practice.

One test of a cult is that it often does not strictly teach that
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who Himself is God manifested in the flesh.
Another test is whether the person who is the teacher or leader of the group or
movement promotes himself as being equal to or greater than Jesus, or promotes
allegiance to himself in such a way as to take away from obedience to and worship
of Christ (II Corinthians 10:10, 18; 11:3,4).

Christian-oriented cults include:
The Church of the Latter Day Saints or Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints
(also known as Mormons); Christian Science; Unity; Unitarianism (various groups);
The Way International (not all groups using the term "The Way"); Rosicrucian Society
of America; Bahai; Hare Krishna; Scientology; The Unification Church ("Moonies");
the so-called "Children of God" headed by "Moses" Berg; Jehovah's Witnesses and
other fringe groups whose teachings should be suspect.

Some occult groups mix
Christianity into their teachings, often deceiving people into following them.
Included are: The Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE); Theosophy;
Witchcraft and others. Also beware of groups following "Cabalism"; lodges having
secret and often bloody oaths; Transcendental Meditation (TM); eastern mysticism
(including yoga and those where deities are named) and others which would add
Christianity to their religious practices and beliefs.

If you have been entangled
with any of these groups, repent, renouncing your involvement with them. Call
on the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing (I John 1:9) and ask for the Baptism
with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Participate in a local church fellowship and
church-recognized Holy Spirit-oriented Bible/prayer fellowship where the Bible
is the only rule for faith and practice (Acts 17:11b).

Upon renouncing cultish
beliefs and activities, you must still make willful choices that will change habit
patterns related to the cultish activity. Discard all books, tapes, fetishes...(II
Kings 19:18, Isaiah 37:19). Old patterns (e.g., inordinate cult-oriented mediation)
carried over into a new Christian lifestyle (e.g., prayer) tends to deceive and
weaken your resistance to future satanic attacks, much as hypnotism weakens your
ability to resist repeated hypnosis.

As You Pray

Repent of cultish
involvement. If you find that you cannot repent, you need to seek help for deliverance
from cultish spirits. Pray for spiritual enlightenment. Pray that the Holy Spirit
will lead you to a church fellowship that teaches Bible truth.

What to Pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe
that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life.
I know You are the only way to God so now I want to quit disobeying You and start
living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, please send us an e-mail to
let us know. Or you can call our National Counseling Center at (800) 759-0700.
We would love to talk with you and send you some literature to help you begin
your walk with the Lord.

How you can know you are forgiven?

The Bible, God's
Word says: You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better that we deserve.
This is God's gift to you, and you have done nothing on your own (Ephesians 2:8).
For those who put their faith in Jesus: He gave them the right to be the children
of God... God Himself was the one who made them His children (John 1:12-13).